He wanted to go to a zombie walk for many years but could not find any walks close enough to the Bloomington/Normal area. He then decided to make a page and get one started locally. He hoped that it would take on a life of its own and he would just show up and walk just like everyone else, and he would not tell anyone that he started it. Only about 35 people walked in the May 2010 walk. M
ark was not discouraged, in fact he was very happy about the turnout. He decided to do it again, this time in October 2010, hoping to get the local college students involved. He made a new page and tried his hardest to let everyone know about it. The October 2010 walk had around 175 people show up. The Pantograph even wrote an article about the walk. Just before the October walk many people asked him if he was going to use the walk to raise money or awareness for a cause or an organization. He talked with his wife and they decided that the next walk would raise money for CCFA, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, having a close family member with Crohns. Once the page and plans were set for the October 2011 walk Mark got alot of attention from people wanting to help. He was contacted by Connie Blick, who wanted to help organize an after party that would have live music and could help raise a whole lot more money for CCFA. The October 2011 walk was the biggest yet with around 200 walkers and over 30 local business donating to a raffle. With the help of his wife, Amber, and Mother in Law, Linda, we were able to get a ton of prizes donated. Everything from oil changes to tattoos. After the walk we held the after party with local bands from around the area. The venue for the party was The Firehouse Pizza & Pub in Uptown Normal, who also donated a lot. All together we were able to raise $1,893.50 for the CCFA. Now after a very successful walk in 2012 we have raised about $5000.00 for the CCFA. And we continue to grow in popularity and have more people walk every year! After 2013 very successful Walk with more Zombies then we ever imagined, around 300 we think, we have almost been able to donate 10,000.00 we are only about 3,000 short of our goal, so that was our goal for the 2014 Walk. Due to weather we came up just shy of the $3000 to hit $10000. We will make it in 2015! The 2015 Walk is shaping up to be the biggest walk yet. With kids games, a zombie feast at D.P. Dough and Zombie Karaoke at Lunker's. Please check all of the rules, and the map before coming to any walks. Links will be updated on the BNZW Facebook Wall. ALL BNZW walks happen no matter the weather; rain, snow, freezing cold, or heat. Weather does not stop zombies, it wont stop us. Please bring supplies (blood/makeup/etc...) if you are willing to share. If you come not dressed or not looking like a zombie PLEASE ask for some blood or something! We don't want the living mixed in with the dead that never turns out well ;)! We do enjoy a few zombie hunters. Please send me an Email if you want to be a Zombie hunter. We do like to put zombie hunters to work a bit, so I would like to know how many we will have. Email Zombie Walk at [email protected]
